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How to record shows on comcast?

How can I record shows from digital cable (Comcast) using my Windows XP Media Center Edition laptop as a DVR?

  • I have a new HP laptop with Windows XP Media Center Edition on it. It has S-video OUT, two USB 2.0 ports, built in wireless, 80Gig hard drive. I would like to be able to record shows from Comcast's digital cable service on the laptop, using the laptop as a DVR. How can I do this? Do I need a separate TV tuner? Or can I hook up to the existing digital cable box? What about pay cable channels like HBO? Thanks!

  • Answer:

    If all you have is USB and not FireWire, you'll need a USB-based Tuner/video capture device. (I'm not even sure Firewire would help because the cable box would have to support it and I'll bet most don't.) You're best bet will be an S-Video connection but composite (the yellow RCA plug) or even antenna (channel 3) input will do from the cable box to the USB capture device. This will make for quite a clunky-looking system if it is going to go in your AV cabinet. If you get a dedicated home-built DVR PC using something like MythTV and a built-in tuner card, you can transfer the recordings to your laptop (via a LAN connection) for viewing later. Another option for remote viewing is SlingBox. Very cool stuff.

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It really depends on what type of video/audio out your cable box has. Your computer has to have matching a video/audio in. A firewire connection would be your best bet but you can manage with the yellow/red/ white cables.

Bobbie

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